Rajoana brought to court, rumours put to rest

Ending speculation that he had been shifted to Delhi's Tihar jail for execution of his death sentence in the Beant Singh assassination case, Khalistani terrorist Balwant Singh Rajoana was on Wednesday presented in the court of additional civil judge (senior division) Deepika who framed charges against him in an Arms Act case.

At the last hearing on March 3, Rajoana had appeared through internet-based conferencing, leading to rumours and even a news report in a Punjabi daily saying that he had been shifted from the Patiala jail to Tihar. The police issued clarifications and this time, as he refused to use the internet facility, he was presented in person. Police had cited security concerns and VIP visits to Patiala as reasons for not bringing him to court earlier.

This is the last case, dating back to 1999, pending against Rajoana, who has also been sentenced to 10 years in an Explosive Act case by a Patiala court.